Sprint offers beginners chance to tri new sport

Boulder race slated for Sunday at reservoir

On Sunday, hundreds of athletes will converge on Boulder Reservoir for what has become a favorite summer event.

The eighth annual 5430 Sprint Triathlon will start at 7:30 a.m. and should have about 1,500 participants, according to Barry Siff.

Siff helped start this event eight years ago and he's proud to see what it has become.

"It's just a really, really fun early-season triathlon that is very professionally run by IronMan," Siff said.

As usual, the event figures to draw top-notch athletes, as well as many competing in their first triathlon.

"For (the elite athletes), it's a really great training day and a great speed workout," Siff said. "For others, it's a really great target or first triathlon."

Because it is not a full triathlon, the 5430 Sprint Triathlon is attractive to several first-timers. The event features a half-mile swim, a 17.2-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run around Boulder Reservoir.

"It's a very fast and a very manageable course," Siff said.

The race starts with the swim at the reservoir. That is followed by the bike ride around the city. Siff described the bicycle portion of the race as being relatively easy for beginners.

"The first five miles are a gradual uphill and after that it's mostly downhill," he said.

The event wraps up with the out-and-back run near the shore of the reservoir. The running portion is flat and fast.

Catering the event to first-time and inexperienced triathletes was Siff's mission when starting this race years ago.

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"The purpose of this particular race was really for beginning (racers) and non-professionals," he said. "Our other races always had a lot of professional athletes at them and it was very intimidating and highly competitive. We wanted to create an event that was much more conducive and welcoming to first-timers and beginners and people who might otherwise be intimidated, and it worked. It's been really well received ever since."

It's a source of pride to Siff to know that this event has introduced many residents to triathlons.

"Absolutely we have. No question about it," he said. "I've met so many people that said, 'That was my first triathlon.'

"We have definitely introduced it to a lot of people, including a lot of people who went on to become professionals."

Notable

In addition to the race itself, there is a post-race breakfast for participants. ... Holding the event on Father's Day has also been part of its appeal, Siff said. "It's a great celebration for dads," he said. "We get a lot of families out there." ... This event is the first of three in the Boulder Tri Series. The Boulder Peak Triathlon will be held on July 8 and the Ironman 70.3 Boulder will be on Aug. 5. ... To register for any of these events, visit

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